Sealing nitrocellulose cement



p 1958 t M. K. DRESDE-N 2,849,739 I SEALING NITROCELLULOSE CEMENT FiledNOV. 4, 1952 I INVENTOR Mari- A.- fires den SE L NG NrrRocE L rosaCEMENT Mark K. Dresden, Media, Pa., assignor to A. H. Wirz, Inc,Chester, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 4,1952, Serial No. 318,656

7 Claims. ((1 -4405) The present invention relates to sealing ofcontainers for nitrocellulose cement or similar materials.

A purpose of the invention is to produce a closure for a container ofnitrocellulose cement or the like which will not be held closed byhardening of the cement.

A further purpose is to avoid the necessity of drilling out the tip of acontainer of nitrocellulose cement or the like each time the cement isused.

A further purpose is to reduce the waste of nitrocellulose cement or thelike incident to hardeningof quantities around the tip which cannot beusefully employed.

A further purpose is to provide a tip having a reduced discharge orificeand a tapered internal portion toward the outer end thereof and toinsert a polyethylene or other elastomer closure having a taperedportion which engages the tapered portion of the tip, then a reducedportion passing through the orifice, and then an applicator.

A further purpose is to provide a recessed flange on the closure and towipe the outside of the tip by the flange.

Further purposes appear in the specification and'in the claims.

In the drawings 1 have chosen to illustrate a few only of the numerousembodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the forms shownfrom the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactoryoperation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a container in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 and 3 are fragmentary side elevations, partly in axial section,Figure 2 showing the closure lined up with the tip preparatory forinsertion and Figure 3 showing the closure inserted.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the closure.

Figure 5 is an axial section of the closure.

Figures 6 and 7 show the preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 illustrates the embodiment in top plan.

Figure 7 is an axial section of the embodiment.

Figures 8 and 9 are axial sections of further variations in the closure.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to thedrawings:

Nitrocellulose cement, composed of nitrocellulose dissolved in asuitable solvent such as butyl acetate, amyl acetate, ether-alcohol,acetone, or amyl alcohol, is widely used in industry and in thehousehold as an adhesive, one brand being known as Duco cement. Theproblem of suitably closing the collapsible tube or other container inwhich the cement is contained is a diificult one because if allowed todry the cement forms a hard plug in the tip of the container andprevents discharge of further cement. Extensive use has been made in thepast of a metallic screw-eye as a closure, the screw-eye threading intothe opening usually by making a driving thread in a closed end of thetip and on each insertion drilling li atented Sept. 2, 1958 through anyplug of solidified nitrocellulose. This, however, has resulted informing new threads on successive insertions, and damaging the aluminum,lead alloy or other metal of the neck of the collapsible tube, making itinconvenient to use the tube in the old way. Where the tip is not formedwith the closed end, the screw-eye has a tendency to leak.

I have discovered that polyethylene is not wet by and does not bond tonitrocellulose cement, so that a plug closure of polyethylene is notcemented in place by solidification of nitrocellulose in the tip, butremains readily removable even after any thin film of nitrocellulosecement between the closure and the metal wall solidifies.

Thus it is no longer necessary to provide a container with a closed endon the tip and drill out the end by the screw-eye closure, nor is itnecessary to exert considerable force to loosen the screw-eye and removeit when the cement solidifies. Since there is no wetting of the plugclosure by'the cement, and the polyethylene is resilient, the plugclosure turns just as freely after the cement film between the metal ofthe neck and the plug closure has solidified, as before.

While the invention has its widest application on nitrocellulose cement,it is applicable to containers for similar materials.

-In accordance with the invention, the nitrocellulose cement ismerchandised in a suitable container, such as an aluminum, lead alloy orother suitable collapsible tube 20 having a side wall 21, a shoulder 22,and a tip The tip The closure 26 of the invention is composed ofpolyethylene, a resilient elastomer, having a handle 27 desirably in theform of a disc having externally knurled edges 28 and a closure plug'Stlwhich suitably extends transversely from the handle and desirably fromthe middle thereof.

The plug 30 is large enough to fill the tip opening 24 and suitablysufiiciently larger so that the resilient elastomer will be squeezed andheld in the opening. This is preferably accomplished by providing apointed forward end 31 of the plug, and an intermediate elongatedtapering or conical side wall 32 having a diameter less than that of thetip opening near the forward end and a diameter larger than that of thetip opening at the end near the handle so that in the closed position inFigure 3 the tapered portion jams in the tip opening without permittingthe handle quite to engage the'end 25 of the tip.

Figures 6 and 7 show the preferred embodiment. The tip 23 has from theouter end first a tapered bore 33 converging inwardly, then an annularshoulder 34 forming a reduced orifice 35 and then an enlarged bore 36.The closure 26 has a handle 27' knurled at 28 and a plug 30' in the boreof the tip. The plug has, starting at the handle, a forwardly convergingtapered portion 37 sealing with the tapered bore 33, and then a reduceddiameter at 38 with a forward end applicator 40 of uniform diameterhaving a pointed end at 31. The applicator preferably slightly clears at4-1 from the orifice. The handle 27' is a disc extended at 42 toward theshoulder 22, hugging the outside of the tip at 43 where the handle isannularly recessed and overlaps the tip.

This serves to push any excess of nitrocellulose cement or the like awayfrom the end of the tip before the cement hardens, keeping the tipclean. This forms a double seal, inside and outside the tip.

The plug 30' is very desirably of polyethylene, although in some casesWhere contents other than nitrocellulose adhesive are to be used, anysuitable elastomer such as rubber or synthetic rubber or polyvinylchloride or polyvinyl chloride-acetate may be used for the plug.

In Figure 8 the closure 26 is similar to that of Figures 6 and 7 exceptthat the knurling at the outside is elimi nated, a flange 42. extendsover the outside of the tip, and the applicator is blunt at 31' at theend.

In Figure 9 the flange extends outward at 42 to form a rim. Both theseforms tend to push excess of cement away from the end of the tip.

It will be evident that the device of the invention is peculiarlyadapted to provide a readily re-opened closure for nitrocellulosecement, since, unlike metal, glass, wood, and a Wide variety of othermaterials, nitrocellulose does not bond to polyethylene.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention with out copying the process and structure shown, and I.therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonablespirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a package, a metallic collapsible tube having a tip,nitrocellulose cement in the collapsible tube, and a unitary closure forthe collapisible tube consisting of polyethylene and comprising a handlebeyond the end ofthe tip, a solid plug element extending from the,handle and having walls which engage the interior of the tip effecting aseal and an applicator portion on the end of the plug element remotefrom the handle, the polyethylene having the property of maintaining anon-adhering. condition with respect to the nitrocellulose cement as itmay.

solidify around the tip when the closure is removed.

2. In a package, a metallic vessel having a tip provided with anorifice, a content of nitrocellulose adhesive in the vessel, and aunitary closure for the orifice cOnsisting O'f polyethylene andcomprising a handle beyond and around the tip, the handle extending overthe outside of the tip adjacent the tip, a solid plug element extendingfrom the handle tapering toward the end remote from the handle, thetapered portion engaging the interior of the orifice and effecting aseal, and the portion of the plug beyond the sealing portion of theorifice being of reduced diameter and adapted on removal of the closureto withdraw ad hesive and function as an applicator.

3. In a package, a metallic collapsible tube having an elongated tip andan elongated opening through said tip,

nitrocellulose cement in said collapsible tube, and a unitary closurefor the collapsible tube consisting of polyethylene and comprising ahandle beyond the end of,

the tip, a solid elongated plug element extending from said handle andsubstantially filling said opening, said plug in the removed conditionhaving a forward taper and being larger at the handle end than theoutside end of the tip opening so that a substantial length of the plugis squeezed and held in the opening giving a thorougr seal and said plughaving at the forward end a portion smaller than the handle end of saidtip opening for ready 4.- insertion, the polyethylene having theproperty of main taining a non-adhering resilient relation with respectto the tube whether adhesive has set regularly or irregularly or isstill liquid on the inside and outside surfaces of the tip as the resultof removing said plug, dispensing adhesive and thereafter inserting saidplug.

4. In a package, a metallic collapsible tube having an elongated tip andan elongated opening through said tip, nitrocellulose cement in saidcollapsible tube, and a unitary closure for the collapsible tubeconsisting of polyethylene and comprising a handle beyond the end of thetip, a solid elongated plug element extending from said handle andsubstantially filling said opening and having a pointed endapproximately at the inner end of said opening, said plug in the removedcondition having a forward taper and being larger at the handle end thanthe outside end of the tip opening so that a substantial length of theplug is squeezed and held in the opening giving a thorough seal and saidpointed end enabling ready insertion, the polyethylene having theproperty of maintaining a non-adhering resilient relation with respectto the tube Whether adhesive has set regularly or irregularly or isstill liquid on the inside and outside surfaces of the tip as the resultof removing said plug, dispensing adhesive and thereafter inserting saidplug.

5. In a package, a metallic collapsible tube having an elongated tip andan elongated opening through said tip, said tip having an insideshoulder locally constricting said opening substantially inside theexternal end of said opening, nitrocellulose cement in said collapsibletube, and a unitary closure for said collapsible tube consisting ofpolyethylene and comprising a handle beyond the end of said tip, a solidelongated plug element extending from said handle and substantiallyfilling said opening, said plug being larger at the handle end than theexternal end of the tip opening so that a substantial length of the plugis squeezed and held in the opening in advance of said shoulder giving athorough seal and said plug having an applicator at the forward endsmaller than the external end of said tip opening for ready insertionand extending past said shoulder with clearance into the adhesive, thepolyethylene having the property of maintaining a non adhering resilientsealing relation with respect to the tube whether adhesive has setregularly or irregularly or is still liquid on the inside and outsidesurfaces of the tip as the result of removing said plug, dispensingadhesive and thereafter inserting said plug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,137,086 Rodiger Apr. 27, 1915 1,740,287 Davis Dec. 17, 1929 2,485,996Atkin Oct. 25, 1949 2,526,225 Gronemeyer Oct. 17, 1950 2,609,955 MooreSept.9, 1952 2,617,553 Lay Nov. 11, 1952 2,639,057 Gronemeyer et al. May19,1953

OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging Encyclopedia, 1952, page 266,published by the Packaging Catalog Corp.

2. IN A PACKAGE, A METALLIC VESSEL HAVING A TIP PROVIDED WITH ANORIFICE, A CONTENT OF NITROCELLULOSE ADHESIVE IN THE VESSEL, AND AUNITARY CLOSURE FOR THE ORIFICE CONSISTING OF POLYETHYLENE ANDCOMPRISING A HANDLE BEYOND AND AROUND THE TIP, THE HANDLE EXTENDING OVERTHE OUTSIDE OF THE TIP ADJACENT THE TIP, A SOLID PLUG ELEMENT EXTENDINGFROM THE HANDLE TAPERING TOWARD THE END REMOTE FROM THE HANDLE,